Suppression of ultraviolet light-induced skin pathologies

Method for suppression of ultraviolet light-induced skin pathologies

Demonstrates a novel and effective therapy for treating or preventing skin cancer

Reduces skin cancer by more than 50 percent

Can be applied in cancer cases involving poor prognosis and chemotherapy resistance

Is most promising for patients with compromised immune systems, such as organ transplant recipients

DETAILED SUMMARY

Non-melanoma skin cancer, caused primarily by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, accounts for half of all cancer in the United States. The more than one million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer that occur in the United States each year are comprised of mainly basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which cause significant morbidity in the general population.

The method of the present invention can be used to prevent or inhibit the etiology of UV-induced skin pathologies, such as sunburn, photoaging and skin cancer.

This invention involves the inhibition of the UV-induced activation of mouse HER2, a protein involved in the growth of cancer cells. Inhibiting the UV-induced activation of HER2 reduces skin tumorigenesis by more than 50 percent, by increasing S-phase arrest, a novel connection between the receptor and a DNA damage response checkpoint that has not been previously reported. HER2 is overexpressed in many human cancers associated with a poor prognosis and resistance to chemotherapy. This research demonstrates a novel and effective therapy for the treatment or prevention of skin cancer. This therapy is perhaps most promising for organ transplant patients with compromised immune systems who often develop aggressive skin cancers.